Daily Health Post

[Quiz]Which Ancient Stress Reliever Could Bring You Peace of Mind?

Since the earliest days of civilization, humans have been locked in a battle with stress. In modern times, whether it be stress at the office, in the home, or a general feeling of anxiety and weight, we still struggle to take control. And while we have modern medications that offer us relief, there are some very powerful ancient techniques for relieving stress. Take our quiz and find out which ancient method might be perfect for you.

Which Ancient Stress Reliever Could Bring You Peace of Mind?

Since the earliest days of civilization, humans have been locked in a battle with stress. In modern times, whether it be stress at the office, in the home, or a general feeling of anxiety and weight, we still struggle to take control. And while we have modern medications that offer us relief, there are some very powerful ancient techniques for relieving stress. Take our quiz and find out which ancient method might be perfect for you.

Live in the Now

This may sound simple and no doubt you’ve heard it before, but it really is one of the most effective stress relievers available. There are two key parts to this technique and when practiced in tandem, stress can effectively be managed. The first part of living in the now is to leave the past behind. No matter how long you dwell on it, thinking about what could or should have been, the past is gone forever. Nothing can change that and it’s an exhausting waste of energy trying to change that.

The second part to living in the now is to plan for the future while not obsessing over it. Channel positive energy towards the outcome you’d like, but calmly accept results should they not go your way. If you can manage to harness the power of these two ways of thinking while giving ample attention to the present, you’ll find a lot of your stress will no longer have a place in your mind. Practice is important and don’t get discouraged.

Good luck in your new, stress-free life!

Meditate

One of the oldest stress relievers, dating back to at least 1500 BCE, meditation has been one of the most relied upon stress relievers for generations. Achieving mindfulness can have a profound affect on our relationship and ability to cope with stress. The four most basic ways to tackle stress with meditation are:

1. Breathing techniques – This is one of the simplest and effective ways to clear and calm your head. All you need is a quiet place where you can focus entirely on your breath. By focusing on breathing, we can divert our attention from other distractions. In time, you’ll be able to remove yourself from stress by completely submerging yourself in your breathing.

2. Pick a point and focus on it – Whether it be a saying or a physical object, train your mind to focus entirely on one thing.

3. Imagine what makes you happy – Think of things known to bring you peace and tranquility. When we focus on such positive thoughts, the results can be extraordinary.

4. Positivity – Similar to the previous tip, try to center your thoughts around positive things.

Harness the Power of Water

The human body is composed of 60% water, thus our relationship to the element is quite profound. Besides making up a majority of the body, the calming power of external sources of water is immense. Two ways to incorporate the power of water to reduce stress are to take a warm bath and/or surround yourself with the sound of water.

The first technique is widely known throughout the modern and ancient worlds. The calming power of a bath is rooted in its simplicity. Just slip into a warm bath and you’ll immediately feel your nerves calm.

The second technique, shrouding yourself in the sound of water, is similar in its simplicity. Find a CD or a digital download of water noise and whenever you’re stressed, slip the headphones on. It can be done anywhere and is sure to settle a few of your nerves.

Get in Sync with Nature

Modern life is so flooded and overwhelmed with stimuli that it’s often hard to remember what lies just beyond all of the noise. Nature’s tranquility has always been a place of refuge and source of calming inspiration. Nature as a stress relief comes in several forms that are highly effective in calming our minds. Beyond the obvious benefits of a long peaceful walk, getting in touch with nature can also mean spending time with animals or growing a small garden. The therapeutic affects of both are widely documented and linked to faster surgery recovery as well as lowered blood pressure. So, whether you live in a city or the countryside, make sure to take some time off now and then to enjoy the wonders of nature. Your mind and your soul will be very thankful.

Do you currently practice a stress relieving technique?

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When the weekend comes along, what are you most likely to do?

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Did taking this quiz stress you out?

Countless studies show that stress is at actually at the root of most disease.

We also know that chronic stress increases the risk of stroke by as much as 50 percent. Plus, it raises the risk of heart disease by 40 percent and even ups the risk of heart attack by 25 percent (2). It further affects your immune system, which makes you susceptible to any number of diseases.

And the worst part is that while you may not even realize you are stressed, your body still feels the repercussions.

10 Signs Of Stress

If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be time to take a holiday, go outside or treat yourself to a nice bath and a good book.

1. Chronic Pain

When under constant stress, your body starts to react by breaking down. We often ignore the first signs of pain, covering them up with medications or just working through them.

Over time, however, the pain continues until you can no longer ignore it. It can manifest as stomach issues, diarrhea, ulcers, tense muscles, or even chronic chest pain and heart palpitations. Eventually, your body will simply begin to ache all over, all of the time.

You can develop symptoms of arthritis, migraine headaches or any number of ailments that you can simply no longer ignore. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is not right (3). You need to pay attention to this warning and follow through by reducing your stress whenever possible.

2. Not Sleeping

We all have a bad night’s sleep once in a while but if this becomes the norm, it can be a sure sign that you’re overstressed. And just as not enough sleep can signal stress, so can too much sleep. While sleeping patterns do change over time, any drastic fluctuation in your sleep is a warning that you need to take seriously (4).

3. Weight Fluctuations

While it is normal for your weight to fluctuate slightly, chronic stress can cause your metabolism to change. Some people will lose their appetite, or develop stomach issues that impede weight gain, while others will gain weight from stress eating or simply because their cortisol levels skyrocket during stressful times (5). The bottom line is that your weight is a good indicator of what is happening around you so pay attention to any significant weight changes.

4. Chronic Worrying

Do you feel like your mind is the hamster on the proverbial wheel—running in circles until exhaustion? When work or other outside influences become the cornerstone of your life, you know it’s time to shut it down.

Chronic worrying can lead to both psychological and physiological problems that will ultimately make you sick (6). Learn to leave everything behind when you walk out the office door. No amount of worrying will change a situation. In fact, constantly worrying will only further cloud your mind and make any situation worse, especially when you eventually have to add health issues to the mix.

5. Being Jittery And Anxious

You’ve probably experienced a little anxiety at some point in your life. You’ve also probably felt like you simply can’t sit still at one time or another, especially before a big presentation or important interview. That’s normal.

But if you find this anxiousness is growing to the point you feel jittery all of the time, or that you need to be constantly on the move, it’s probably safe to say it’s time to pull in the reigns and take some time to chill out. Your mind can be your worst enemy in times of stress. Stress can trigger a whole slew of emotions you may not have even known you had.

If you find you are more emotional and anxious than normal, stress is probably at the cause (7).

6. Zero Patience

When stressed, it can be really hard, if not impossible, to be patient with other people. Even the slightest problem or issue can cause you snap or trigger an onslaught of anger and rage. In extreme cases, pent up stress can even result in violence (8).

While you may be able to apologize your way out of the first incident or even two, when this behavior becomes the norm, it is definitely time to seek out help in the form of relaxation techniques. Better yet, find a good counselor who can help you through the rough patch. Don’t let stress interfere in your relationships with others.

7. Crazy Mood Swings

Women all too often know the effects that hormones can have on your emotions. Well, chronic stress also releases a slew of hormones like adrenaline (fight or flight) and cortisol (fat hormone) (9). Ongoing stress can also trigger other hormones that can have you jumping up and down with excitement one minute and blubbering like a baby the next (10).

The worst thing you can do if you find your mood is roller coasting out of control is to ignore the symptoms and bottle these emotions up. Just like the cork on a champagne bottle, eventually, these emotions will rise to the top and explode out, catching anyone who is close in the crossfire.

This kind of stress can also lead people to drink or do drugs as a way to quell their out of control feelings. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. Talk to someone or find a safe way to vent before you spin out of control.

8. Hair loss

While it’s normal to lose up to 100 individual hairs every day, when you are stressed this amount can actually become extremely noticeable and even unmanageable. One specific kind of hair loss, telogen effluvium, is directly caused by physical or emotional stress and it can take months for your hair to grow back once you have your stress under control (11).

Other diseases can also cause hair loss so if you notice a significant amount of hair falling out, you should check with your doctor. If the cause is indeed stress, you will need to find other ways to effectively deal with the issue.

9. Low Libido

This is probably the last symptom people will address when stressed because it can cause extreme embarrassment for some and feelings of insecurity for others.

Whatever your reaction to a loss of libido, however, there are ways you can deal with it. Often the issue can be as simple as exhaustion or more complex such as a hormonal imbalance (12).

Regardless, if you are experiencing issues with respect to your libido, it is time to seek out an effective form of stress management. Speak to your partner and let them know you are stressed. Just accepting the situation and recognizing you are under immense pressure can often help alleviate the issue.

Bonus: Weekend Headaches

Ironically, a drop in your stress levels on weekends or days you are away from work can actually trigger migraines, according to researchers at the Washington University Headache Center. If you suddenly go from feeling crazed to feeling relaxed, it can trigger the hallmark symptoms of migraines—flashing lights, nausea, or a stabbing sensation in a particular spot on your temple or behind your eye (13).

The best way to avoid this type of migraine is to make sure you follow the same sleep and eating patterns you do during the work week. Ultimately, you will have to learn how to handle stress better during the week, but until then, you can hold off the weekend headaches by following your normal routine.